Executive Director

Position Executive Director
Created January 2005

Approved by Board of Directors
Approved Date January 8, 2005
Revised Date October 9, 2007

Summary

The Executive Director is a seasoned and skilled leader with a record of achievement who is able to gain the trust of and work effectively with a wide variety of people, including staff, the Board of Directors, the farming community, partner agencies and the public.

Background

Solano Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is the preservation of agricultural lands, open space, and resources through the acquisition of land and conservation easements, education and land management. SLT owns over 10,000 acres of land in Solano County and has conservation easements on more than 6,000 acres.

The operating budget and staff have grown significantly in recent years. The FY 2007-08 budget is $11.5 million (operations, projects, endowment, and agricultural conservation easements).

There are eleven approved positions: Executive Director, Conservation Project Manager, Land Transaction Specialist (1.5 FTE), Land Steward, Field Steward, Project Coordinator, Volunteer and Education Coordinator, Development Director (fundraising), Finance Officer (.5 FTE) and Bookkeeper.

The Board of Directors includes three farmers, two Green Valley Landowners Association, two business and two at-large representatives and one representative each from the City of Fairfield, Solano County, the Orderly Growth Committee, and the real estate development community.

Numerous new conservation easement and land acquisitions projects are in various stages of development. SLT has just opened a 5,000 square foot nature center at our Rush Ranch open space in the Suisun Marsh. We have plans either approved or underway for management of habitat and public access on our properties. We are in year-one of a three-year agreement with Solano County to manage public access at our 1,038-acre Lynch Canyon Open Space. Our updated website won a 2007 Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Web Marketing Association. To learn more about SLT, visit www.solanolandtrust.org.

Responsibilities of the Position

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of the land trust in a professional and business-like manner. The Executive Director is charged with moving forward the ag conservation easement, land stewardship and public access and educational activities of the land trust in order to continually achieve our mission and ensure long-term financial stability.

The Executive Director will manage and mentor a professional staff, providing guidance to staff in negotiating and carrying out complex real estate transactions and in overseeing and carrying out complex environmental studies and restoration projects.

The Executive Director will ensure the long-term financial stability of the land trust by actively guiding fund-raising and legacy programs, grant-writing, grazing license, endowment and other revenue-generating activities. The Executive Director also oversees preparation and monitoring of annual budgets and writes the accompanying annual budget narrative.

The Executive Director will be a role model for reaching out to and working collaboratively with staff, the Board of Directors and its many subcommittees, our many partners, the ag community and the general public. The executive director staffs the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee as well as attends/supports the Investment Committee, the Audit Committee, the Ag Conservation Easement Committee, the Acquisition Committee, and the Mitigation Committee.

The Executive Director is responsible for team building, organizational development functions, policy recommendations and long-term strategic planning.

The Executive Director also has primary responsibility for human resources, some marketing and outreach functions (quarterly newsletter, website, speaking engagements), and records management.

Position Requirements

The Executive Director must champion permanent protection of agricultural and open space lands. The Executive Director will be a self-directed leader able gain the trust of and work effectively with a wide variety of people.

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in natural resource management, agriculture, science, business administration, planning, real estate, law or similar field is required. Master’s degree in relevant field a plus.

2. Five to ten years of experience as an executive director or senior manager in a non-profit, governmental or for-profit organization is desired.

3. Knowledge or experience in the day-to-day management of a small non-profit is required, particularly financial and human resources management.

4. Knowledge or experience with agriculture, real estate transactions and land stewardship is highly desired.

5. Demonstrated ability to build an effective team consisting of staff, volunteers, Board and advisory committee members is required.

6. Competency in performing and reviewing complex writing assignments, such as grant applications, policies, strategic plans, contracts and studies.

7. Competency in public speaking, especially to advocate for the work of the Land Trust.

8. Available evenings and weekends for meetings and conferences, including regional and out of state conferences.

Salary and Benefits
Salary range is $60,000 to $90,000 for fulltime work, depending on qualifications. Employee benefits include medical, dental, vision and 403.b. retirement account, with SLT matching up to 2%.

To Apply
Please submit resume, salary history and letter of introduction to:

Marilyn Farley
Executive Director
marilyn@solanolandtrust.org
707-432-0150 ext. 201

For further information, you may also contact:
Bob Berman
President
bob@nicholsberman.com
707-745-5845

Posted: October 9, 2007
Position available after January 2, 2008
Open until filled